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Soil geochemistry and multivariate statistical assessment of Copper–Gold-PGEs mineralization in parts of Singida Region of the Tanzania Craton, Tanzania, East Africa

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Abstract

Multi-element mineralization of copper (Cu), gold (Au), and precious group of elements (PGEs) in the Kishapu-Igunga-Iramba areas in the central parts of Tanzania was evaluated in the study. The main aim was to characterize the mineralization with a focus on the pathfinder elements and the controls of the mineralization in the area through soil geochemistry and multivariate statistics and multivariate linear regression (MLR) methods. From the multivariate statistical methods applied, the Cu, Au, and PGEs mineralization in the area is associated with arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb). The Cu and Au occurrence in the area is a likely porphyry Cu-Au from their strong association. The mineralization (multi-elements) is strongly controlled by mafic–ultramafic rocks and volcaniclastics in the northern, southern, and central parts of the study area. From the MLR, Cu is strongly predicted by Zn, Ni, and Au with an error of ± 0.230, with Pd being predicted by only Pt and vice versa, with an error margin of ± 0.001. Au on the other hand is predicted by Cu, Fe, and Cr with an error margin of ± 0.473. The style of mineralization of these elements is comparable to their occurrence in the Neoproterozoic setting and the Paleoproterozoic Ubendian belt of Tanzania as well as the PGEs occurrence in South Africa and Canada. Coupling MLR with hierarchical cluster analysis and factor analysis brings out a more definitive elemental association to precious minerals occurrence from the study and is strongly recommended.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) for providing all data used in this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST), P. O. Box 903, Dodoma, Tanzania

    John Desderius Kalimenze

  2. Department of Geological Engineering, School of Engineering, University for Development Studies – Tamale, P. O. Box, 1882, Nyankpala, Ghana

    Mahamuda Abu

  3. Department of Physics, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, P. O. Box 259, Dodoma, Tanzania

    Benatus Norbert Mvile

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  1. John Desderius Kalimenze
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Correspondence to Benatus Norbert Mvile.

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Kalimenze, J.D., Abu, M. & Mvile, B.N. Soil geochemistry and multivariate statistical assessment of Copper–Gold-PGEs mineralization in parts of Singida Region of the Tanzania Craton, Tanzania, East Africa. Arab J Geosci 16, 59 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-11148-5

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